A ROCKIN' REMEMBRANCE

by Kristen Shook | photos by Noah Neff

Heart broken by recent national acts of gun violence and personally bearing the loss of numerous children she used to work with, Julie Phillips was compelled to make a difference. Say Their Names Rock Project is a way to memorialize victims of gun violence while providing some solace to families. It also aims to bring awareness and decrease the number of lives lost to gun violence. The worldwide project began in Topeka in June 2020.

SAY THEIR NAMES ROCK PROJECT

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences endured throughout this journey called life. During the time of grievance, emotions are unstable and it is challenging to conceptualize what has truly happened. It is nearly impossible to fully acknowledge that an individual you cared for is no longer here. Never being able to reconnect through text, over lunch, or simply just giving them a hug, is truly the most difficult aspect to accept. Taking things one day at a time is the only way to get through the feeling of loss. What is most important, is to cherish the memories made and find a way to honor them that is sufficient enough to bear the passing. One of the most universal ways of memorializing an individual is an item held for keepsake.

After bearing the loss of numerous children she used to work with, and being heart broken by the recent events within the nation, Julie Phillips was compelled to make a difference. On June 5, National Gun Violence Awareness Day, those who wanted to raise awareness of gun safety and lives lost due to gun violence, support the cause by wearing orange. After participating in spreading awareness throughout that weekend, Phillips knew it was not enough. “No one was taking it and making it a thing beyond the day [June 5th], so I wanted to make it a forever thing," said Julie. It is impossible to recognize everyone we’ve lost in one day and we continue to lose people.” Inspired by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, she knew how to commemorate lost lives in a simple but profound way.

Phillips created the SAY THEIR NAMES ROCK PROJECT to which she paints rocks orange and dedicates each rock to a victim of gun violence. She utilizes the rocks as a memorial by painting the phrase “End Gun Violence For” the names of individuals, and the age they were when they lost their lives. Not only does she dedicate her time and energy to create these rocks, adding the fine details by hand, she spends a generous amount of time learning about each individual.

“I look up and read information about the person before I place the rock. I try to memorize all the names of the rocks I place and get to where I feel like I know them.” Learning about each individual is the most important part of the project to her. Emphasizing the significance of each life lost needing to be remembered equally, she stated, “For the general population you see a name in the article and move on. But it is frustrating because it just gets forgotten. No one deserves to die.” The purpose of the project is to bring awareness in a way that cannot be overlooked.

When someone in the community finds a rock, Phillips hopes that it sparks a conversation. She urges people to look up information about the name on the rock and begin to make a deeper connection, get to know the individual who has passed, and help keep their memory alive. “I just hope that we are saving a life because someone changes their mind about picking up a gun because of seeing this project. I want people to not be able to ignore it,” she said. If there is one life impacted, her mission will feel complete. With the work of love and happiness she began the project with the thought, “Instead of just being mad, I decided to channel my energy into something that would make me happy.”

Within a month of beginning the project she has completed nearly 400 rocks to honor lives lost due to gun violence. Although beginning in the city of Topeka, the project has already traveled worldwide, as a photo of one of the rocks was shared from Bangladesh. Phillips has no thought of stopping anytime soon, she knows this is just the beginning of the impact she can have on raising awareness.

Already brainstorming on how to allow the project to become more fulfilling to those who have lost family and friends, Phillips now offers an option to have a custom rock made for keepsake in exchange of a donation. If you wish to submit a name to the commemoration list, request a custom rock, or make a donation, please visit the Facebook page Say Their Names Rock Project.